2004 Volkswagen Lt — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,374 MOT tests, the 2004 Volkswagen Lt recorded a 70.5% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 27.7% of the time, so this is 1.8pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 23.3% of all tests — 4.0 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, rbt (sp) and service brake performance — headlamp alone was recorded 269 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2004 Lt fails 30.9% of the time in the 30-60k band and 30.7% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.2 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 41.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 30.3% in 2021 to 28.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 23.3% | 552 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.3% | 457 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.6% | 252 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.0% | 166 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.6% | 156 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.8% | 113 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 269 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 231 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 186 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 169 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 148 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 147 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 41.7% | 989 |
| 2 | Suspension | 39.7% | 943 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 26.1% | 619 |
| 4 | Tyres | 19.8% | 469 |
| 5 | Other defects | 17.1% | 405 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 14.5% | 345 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 68 | 30.9% |
| 60-90k | 163 | 27.6% |
| 90-120k | 314 | 28.0% |
| 120-150k | 518 | 27.6% |
| 150k+ | 1,274 | 30.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 505 | 30.3% |
| 2022 | 501 | 32.1% |
| 2023 | 468 | 28.2% |
| 2024 | 460 | 28.3% |
| 2025 | 440 | 28.4% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Lt
On a 2004 Lt, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 23.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (23.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (19.3% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (10.6% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2004 Volkswagen Lts pass their MOT?
70.5% of the 2,374 2004 Volkswagen Lt MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Volkswagen Lt?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 23.3% of tests, followed by brakes (19.3%).
Does the 2004 Lt get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 30.9% in the 30-60k band to 30.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,374 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.